The late former prime minister divided opinion and while many have mourned, many have also seen her death as a cause for celebration, prompting a download surge for the song.

It is expected to remain in the upper reaches when the official chart is announced on Sunday.

It is also currently at number two in the iTunes download chart.

The BBC said it would decide whether to play Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead during Radio 1's top 40 countdown when places are finalised at the weekend.

It said: "The Official Chart Show on Sunday is a historical and factual account of what the British public has been buying and we will make a decision about playing it when the final chart positions are clear."

The death earlier this week also prompted the BBC to run coverage of the 1979 election in its entirety this weekend. The BBC Parliament channel will screen the 15-hour programme, Decision 79, a broadcast of the election count which swept her to 10 Downing Street for the first time, on Saturday.

The Conservative party won the election with an overall majority of 43 seats. David Dimbleby hosted the programme which also included interviews by Robin Day and an hourly round-up from newsreader Angela Rippon.